1680 red writing doubt

[TuRo]

Originally Posted by DaMan1990

Hi to all. I’m in search of The correct Red Writing dial for my 1680.
I don’t know what is The correct Mark: MK4 or MK5?
I talk about a 2,8M serial number.
My 1680 has a MK1 white, from around 1978.
Thanks in advance!

Yours is a mk2 ‘thin font’ version btw OP

£8-10,000 is right I’d say for a red….whites can be bought quite cheaply though if you look about - I bought two…one for £1200 and one for £1100 a year or so ago. £2500-3000 being what clued-up dealers ask.

I’d keep it as for now tbh . BTW funny thing about dials is they do occasionally surface cheaply as a seller might have replaced a slightly discoloured or heavily patinated dial (when they were not so lusted after), years ago via an independent watchmaker, lobbed it in a draw/or the box and forgotten about it and then found it, and in their mind it’s just surplus to requirements….

I picked up a gilt (not perfect, but fine) 6542 dial on eBay for £2750 in just that scenario (when dealers would have asked £12-15k or so for one in that condition)…..so don’t give up looking for a cheaper one esp. if you are content with a bit of discolouration/uneven patina/dial rub.

I personally wouldn’t enter into a £10k project though it’s not financially worth it and the mk2 service looks fine.